Youssou N'Dour (SN)

Youssou N'Dour, the global star from Senegal. N'Dour's most recent album, released in November 2021, is Mbalax. Mbalax is a (dance) music style from West Africa with a completely unique sound, created by the combination of traditional Senegalese singing and percussion with jazz, soul, funk, and pop. As the most successful mbalax artist, Youssou N'Dour is largely responsible for the immense popularity of this genre.

Youssou N'Dour is perhaps best known to the Dutch public for his collaboration with Peter Gabriel on In Your Eyes from 1986. And of course the hit single 7 Seconds with Neneh Cherry. In addition, he won a Grammy, composed an opera, and wrote the official anthem of the 1998 FIFA World Cup. In 2012, he ran for president of Senegal and later became his country's Minister of Culture and Tourism. Youssou is also a committed human rights activist.